A jury of nine women and three men couldn't reach a unanimous verdict Friday on the fate of convicted Aurora movie theatre shooter James Holmes, deciding he should spend the rest of his life behind bars rather than face the death penalty.
Their decision - which took less than seven hours to decide upon - comes after watching gruesome crime scene video of the July 20, 2012 massacre's aftermath where 12 people died during a midnight screening of "The Dark Knight Rises." Last month, the same jury convicted Holmes on 164 separate murder counts, including 24 counts of first-degree murder.
Arapahoe County District Court Judge Carlos Samour allowed the jury's request to watch the 45-minute video just once; a request granted over the defense's objection.
At 5 p.m. local time, Holmes found out whether he was to receive a lethal injection or spends the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole. Denver NBC affiliate 9NEWS provided a live stream of the proceedings.
Last month, the same jury convicted Holmes on 164 separate murder counts, including 24 counts of first-degree murder.
Holmes remained relatively expressionless throughout the trial, even when dozens of wounded survivors testified about how they stumbled over bodies while escaping and witnessed loved ones die in their arms. In all, 306 witnesses were called during the 60-day trial; one that preceded similar movie theatre crimes in Louisiana and Tennessee.
Defense attorney Tamara Brady argued the 27-year-old shooter suffered from schizophrenia, asking jurors if they were ready to live with a death penalty decision for the rest of their lives. During the trial's penalty phase, Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler reflected on the evil Holmes brought into the cinema, telling jurors "For James Egan Holmes, justice is death."
UPDATE:
Twitter users responded swiftly. Some though the verdict was racially motivated while other saw it as a step towards backwards in serving justice.
If some one goes into a movie theater and kills a lot of people for no reason and doesn't get the DP, why have it....#JamesHolmes — Dallas Dietzenbach (@DallasDietzenba) August 7, 2015
#JamesHolmes deserved the death penalty. He doesn't deserve to waste my taxpaying dollars to feed and give this psycho shelter. — James Kahiga (@LuckyyLuciano_) August 7, 2015
Today, we showed #JamesHolmes that we are bigger and better than him. We gave him life in prison; the best justice for the shooting victims. — Jordan Turner (@JordanTurnerDoe) August 7, 2015
maybe America is finally getting a bit more civilised! #jamesholmes — sonny grewal (@SonnyinScotland) August 7, 2015
I predict that #JamesHolmes will be dead within 12 months. Relax people. This is the best outcome in this situation. He clearly is sick.
— COGoddess ™ (@coloradorebecca) August 7, 2015
Always happy to see life sentences over death sentences. #JamesHolmes doesn't deserve society's graces, but he deserves to keep his life. — O Rauric (@b_orourke) August 7, 2015
#JamesHolmes is why I have no faith in the #JustUsSystem and why I believe in #jailhousejustice or #streetjustice. #DylannRoof too.
— Magnificent2 (@Indomitable69) August 7, 2015
Kill 12 ppl get life in prison. Sell loose cigarettes on the corner...death sentence carried out immediately. #JamesHolmes only in #America — steve (@SAS0620) August 7, 2015
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